Environmental Health Office

August 2001, Revised July 2004

PURPOSE: This guidance provides information for Housing & Physical Plant personnel who are responsible for capturing or removing bats from University facilities or grounds.

Only designated individuals within Physical Plant or Housing who have been trained to facilitate capture of bats are allowed to perform this procedure.

I. Guidelines for bat capture within arms reach include:

1. Avoid direct skin contact with the bat

2. Wear heavy, pliable thick leather gloves, long sleeve shirts and pants

3. To protect contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) or skin contact around the head and neck, wear a face shield

4. Avoid damaging the head (needed for testing)

- If possible, confine the bat to one room (close the windows, the room and closet doors)

· Turn on lights if room is dark

· Wait for the bat to land

- Cover the bat with a coffee can or similar container with a lid

- Slide a piece of cardboard under the can trapping the bat

- With one hand firmly holding the cardboard in place against the top of the can, turn the can right side up

· Replace the cardboard with the lid (if no lid, tape the cardboard tightly to the can)

· If necessary, use a net or long pole with a piece of duct tape (sticky side out) to capture bat

II. Do not use glue board to capture bat (it cannot be easily removed for rabies testing)

III. Gloves used in capture should be sprayed or wiped with a bleach/water mixture (1 cup bleach to 1 gallon water) or Septin 420 disinfectant solution, or disposed.

Septin 420 website: http://www.bullenairx.com/germ.html

II. Guidelines for bat capture that is not within arm's reach

If a bat is not within arms reach, an extension pole with a net may be used to capture the bat:

- While wearing gloves (heavy, preferably pliable thick leather), slowly approach the bat with net

- Rotate the pole so that the bat is scooped into the net and the net turns in on itself containing the bat

- With a gloved hand, grab the bat through the outside of the net, slide the coffee can into the net, push the bat into the can and place the lid on the can (if no lid, tape a piece of cardboard over the can)

- Note: If a bat has landed behind something or in a space that is too narrow to cover with a coffee can, forceps may be used to capture it. Using a gloved hand to hold the forceps, firmly but gently grasp the bat under a wing and close to its body. Place the bat in the bottom of the coffee can and release your grip on the forceps. Cover the coffee can.

In the event that four or more hours are needed before transportation of a captured bat for subsequent rabies testing occurs, the canned bat should be bagged in plastic and placed in a cooler or refrigerated area. Under no circumstances should a bat be stored in the same cooler or refrigerator as food. The specimen should be kept away from potential contact with people or other animals. The can/bag should be labeled with:

- Date of capture

- Location of reported bat (i.e. Hinds Hall, Rm. 029)

- Exposed individual (if available from the on-site Pubic Safety Officer)

Please do not release the bat until the Health Center has instructed you to do so.

(Call the Health Center at x2666)

If at any time an exposure occurs to the PP/Housing individual capturing the bat, the employee must notify his or her supervisor and report to the Health Center .

Last modified on 9/1/2005.

Biosafety Home Page